Seems like the worst thing is GAS!

[Not happy yet]

I have been reading about alot of things that can happen but the one thing that seems to be the worst is the gas. Does this ever go away? Just how bad is it? Sounds like you cant go to many places with this type of side affects.

[JennaR]

It all depends on the person I think. And how much you walk to get rid of it. I didn't really have any gas pains. I had mild shoulder pain come and go for the first 2-3 weeks but not really anything to hoot about. I had some crampiness in the port area, but I chalk it up to healing not gas pain. I didn't have any pain that I thought was awful or unbearable. Nothing some liquid tylenol or gasx or a heating pad didn't cure quickly.

No worries!

[Shell]

Yep you may experience trapped gas for several days after surgery and may also experience along your journey, the gas after surgery is different from the gas later on into your journey

the band works as a one way valve, the air goes down and has nowhere to go but out . Some never expereice gas right after surgery or down the road, for me I have more gas then I have ever had pre -band.

[Dianechef]

I am 5 days post-op & I haven't really had any gas pains!! I had heard so much about feeling bloated & miserable & am surprised that I'm not feeling it. So, I definately think everyone is different.

[petelczyc]

From my expereince being banded on 07 Apr, there are two types of gas. The gas usually expereinced immediately after the operation is felt in teh shoulder and sometimes stomach. This gas is the carbon dioxide that was used during the operation to "pump up" the stoamch cavity so the surgeon could more easliy move around our innards. The gas post op + a few weeks is just the stomach getting used to the new type of food, bearing in mind that most fruit juices tend to ferment a little in the tummy and so just give off gas. I have continued to have problems burping and occasionally experience an increase in breaking wind, but I can live with it - the weight loss is great, but the vomiting is a pain . . . .

[mefromFL]

I just got banded yesterday and am doing really well. However, I am also having difficulty burping. They seem to get stuck. I tried eating soup and so far can only have about half of a bowl and I am completely full. I am going to take it slow. The pain in my shoulders has gone away, but I think that the walking has helped out alot.

[petelczyc]

I am still burping a lot and I had the procedure in April this year. And I concur that walking does wonders for getting rid of the CO2 and for getting into shape. I made one mistake thouhg: two days after the operation I drank a bottle and a half of a sports drink and boy oh boy did I have to spend 20 or so very, very uncomfortable visits to sit on the toilet. Not nice those electrolytes.